Ultrasound diagnosis apparatus

1. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic probe which transmits and receives ultrasound and outputs received ultrasonic data;

a coordinate measuring unit which measures at least one of a spatial position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe and outputs coordinate data representing a result of measurement for the ultrasonic probe;

a coordinate storage unit which recorded coordinate data;

an information generator unit which generates probe operation support information based on the recorded coordinate data recorded in the coordinate storage unit and current coordinate data which is coordinate data currently output from the coordinate measuring unit; an information provision unit which provides the probe operation support information to a user;

an ultrasound image generator which generates a current ultrasound image based on the received ultrasonic data;

a display device which displays the current ultrasound image and the probe orientation support information; and wherein:

the probe operation support information contains a guidance display, and the guidance display indicates at least one of match and proximity between the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data;

the information generator unit generates the probe operation support information by comparing the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data; and

the guidance display contains an indicator array indicating, for each coordinate component, a match and a proximity between the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data; and wherein

the indicator array comprises a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of coordinate components; and

each of the plurality of indicators includes an indicator element indicating the match, an indicator element indicating the proximity in one direction, and an indicator element indicating the proximity in the other direction.

2. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator array further indicates, for each coordinate component, a polarity of a direction of proximity.

3. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the probe operation support information contains a reference image, and the reference image is an image which represents the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data in a three-dimensional coordinate system based on a subject.

4. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the reference image contains a recorded probe mark which is generated based on the recorded coordinate data and a current probe mark which is generated based on the current coordinate data.

5. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the reference image further contains a body mark representing the subject.

6. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein each of the recorded probe mark, the current probe mark, and the body mark is a three-dimensional image.

7. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus comprising:

a transportable ultrasonic probe which operated by a user and which transmits and receives ultrasound and outputs received ultrasonic data;

a coordinate measuring apparatus unit which measures a spatial position and orientation of the ultrasonic probe and outputs coordinate data representing a result of the measurement;

an instruction generator unit which generates a recording instruction;

a coordinate storage unit which records recorded coordinate data at a timing in which the recording instruction is generated;

an information generator unit which generates probe operation support information for approximating or matching, based on a comparison between the recorded coordinate data recorded in the coordinate storage unit and current coordinate data which is coordinate data currently output from the coordinate measuring unit, the current coordinate data to the recorded coordinate data;

an information provision unit which provides the probe operation support information to the user;

an ultrasound image generator which generates a current ultrasound image based on the received ultrasonic data;

a display device which displays the current ultrasound image and the probe operation support information; and wherein:

the probe operation support information contains a guidance display, and the guidance display indicates at least one of match and proximity between the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data;

the information generator unit generates the probe operation support information by comparing the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data;

the guidance display contains an indicator array indicating, for each coordinate component, a match and a proximity between the recorded coordinate data and the current coordinate data; and wherein

the indicator array comprises a plurality of indicators corresponding to a plurality of coordinate components; and

each of the plurality of indicators includes an indicator element indicating the match, an indicator element indicating the proximity in one direction, and an indicator element indicating the proximity in the other direction.

8. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising: a display device which displays a current ultrasound image, a past ultrasound image, and the probe operation support information.

9. An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the probe operation support information contains a reference image, the reference image contains a first graphical object generated based on the recorded coordinate data and a second graphical object generated based on the current coordinate data, and the second graphical object moves corresponding to a movement of the probe.

10. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coordinate measuring unit comprises a magnetic sensor provided on said ultrasonic probe and a magnet field generator is provided at a fixed location whereby a three-dimensional position and orientation of said ultrasonic probe is measured.